Track torpedo and method of making the same



Jan. 16, 1934. H. w. KELLY 1,944,085

TRACK TORPEDO AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Jan. 7, 1952 ll' llIll II II lHINHH ll llll fiatentecl jan. 16, 1934 UNETED STATES TRACKTORPEDO AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Hugh Williamson Kelly, Woodbridge,N. J.

Application January 7, 1932. Serial No. 585,318

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in track torpedoes and methods ofmaking the same, the principal object being to provide a novellyconstructed torpedo and a simple and eflicient method of making the samein large quantities at low production cost.

tainers as described briefly above, the inner or receptacle sections ofsuch containers being of such dimension that they will hold. the exactquantity of detonating material required for a charge when filled. Themethod further com prises the placing of a plurality of the said innersections in vertically disposed position and in juxtaposed relation toeach other, preferably in a shallow box-like tray,,so as to completelyfill the same and maintain the juxtaposed sections in the desiredupright position. The detonating material, which takes the form of apowder, is then introduced into the upright receptacle sectionssimultaneously until theyare filled, the filling operation being carriedout by any suitable means which will spray or similarly introduce thedetonating material into all of the receptacle sections at the sametime. The filled sections are then removed from the shallow tray and theouter or cover sections of the containers are telescopically applied toclose and seal thecontainer of each torpedo. g,

The novel features of construction of the improved torpedo, as well asthe method of making it, are more clearly set forth hereinafter in thedetailed description of the invention,v as illustrated on theaccompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the telescopic container ofone form of the torpedo; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the containerinclosed condition;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container disposed in properrelation to its flexible attaching strip and the strap for attachingthese elements together;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the completed torpedo; 1

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of torpedo;and

Figs. 6 and 7 present a plan and an elevational View, respectively, ofthe shallow tray hereinbefore mentioned, which is preferably used tocarry out the proposed method, the views illustrating clearly the mannerof positioning the receptacle sections of, the containers in the tray.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, there is disclosed therein oneembodiment of the track torpedo of the invention. As shown clearly inFig. 1, the container, which forms the body of the torpedo, takes theform of a telescopic container comprising an inner or receptacle section1 and an outer or cover section 2. Each of these sections is formed witha closed and an open end. They may be formed of any suitable materialsuch as those in common use in the making of such torpedoes, a heavy ortough paper preferably being used for this purpose. In accordance withthe invention, section 1 is of such dimension that it will hold theexact quantity of detonating material to constitute a charge. In theillustration of Fig. 1, a portion of the section is broken away toillustrate the detonating material 3 therein. The section may take anydesired shape,

the shape illustrated merely being a preferred form. The outer or coversection 2 is, of course, shaped similar-to the inner section and of suchdimensions as to snugly cover and conform with formed of paper, iswrapped about the strip and container. The attaching strap is preferablyformed so as to conform in width with the length of the assembledcontainer. In applying the attaching strap to the elements, thecontainer may be placed upside down centrally upon the strap,

the strip 4 placed centrally on top of the coni tainer, as illustratedin Fig. 3, and the ends of the strap wrapped about the assembledelements and attached by any suitable means, such as an adhesive. Thecompleted torpedo with the attaching strap in operative position isillustrated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5, there is illustrated a modified form of torpedo, whereincontainer sections la and 2a are attached to individual attaching strips4a and 4b by crimping the outer ends of the sections about the strips asillustrated at 6. In this form of torpedo, the sections are formedsimilar throughout their length with both ends open. They are preferablyformed of paper as before and may take any desired shape. The outer endsof the sections are placed about the ends of strips 4a and 4b and thenfolded or crimped as illustrated. A suitable adhesive or any other meansmay be used to attach the crimped ends of the sections to the strips,such adhesive being applied to the inner surface of the crimped sectionends or to the strips themselves. In this instance also, the inner orreceptacle section la is of such dimensions when attached to itsassociated strip that it will hold the exact quantity of detonatingmaterial required for a charge.

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate the manner in which it is contemplated to filla plurality of containers as a step in the method of manufacture of thecomplete torpedo. The method in question is illustrated in these figuresas applied to a container of the form of torpedo illustrated in Figs. 1to 4, but it is to be understood that the method is equally applicableto the modified form of Fig. 5. In accordance with the method as appliedto the torpedo of Figs. 1 to 4, after the sections of a plurality ofcontainers have been formed, the inner or receptacle containers 1 areplaced in closely adjacent position in a suitable shallow boxlike tray'7. Six of the container sections are illustrated at 8 in verticalposition with their open ends exposed. The remaining sections completelyfilling the trap are illustrated diagrammatically by means of crosslines but it will be understood that it is intended that the tray becompletely filled with the closely positioned sections. As shown in Fig.7, the height of the tray is of such dimension that the upper ends ofthe vertically disposed sections protrude above the tray so that theymay be readily withdrawn therefrom after filling.

After the tray has been completely filled with the container sections,as set forth above, they are filled simultaneously with the properquantity of detonating material. This filling operation may be carriedout by hand or by any suitable apparatus for automatically filling thesections. In

the case of manual operation, the operator may use a scoop or trowel tospray the powdered detonating material over the open end sections. Afterpartially filling the sections simultaneously in this manner, he maypack the detonating material by jarring the tray. The filling operationmay comprise successive filling and jarring until all the sections arecompletely filled, at which time, the exact charge will be held by eachof the sections.

After filling, the sections may be removed and the various torpedoescompletely formed in the manner set forth above. It is important to notethat the detonating material when packed during the filling operation,as explained above, will not fall from the filled sections even if someof such sections should topple over in the tray during the removalthereof. Due to the successive jarrings of the tray as above set forth,the powdered detonating material becomes firmly packed, the particlesadhering together. Thus the exact charge is retained by the sections atall times.

Obviously, tray '7 may be large enough to accommodate any desired numberof container sections, the number of such sections which may be filledsimultaneously being unlimited theoretically and limited only bypractical considerations. If the tray is made small for hand operation,it may be provided with suitable handles (not shown) to facilitatehandling by the operator especially in the jarring process. If the trayis extremely large, any suitable means for effecting the jarring thereofto pack the detonating material may be provided. As indicated above, thefilling may be carried out by any suitable apparatus which functions tospray the material over the container sections after the manner ofspraying by hand. Since the container sections are closely positioned,practically no detonating material is wasted and the small amount whichmight enter the crevices between. the containers may be readily salvagedfrom the bottom of the tray after the removal of the filled sections.

In the manufacture of torpedoes of the form shown in Fig. 5,, thereceptacle sections of the containers may be placed upright in the trayafter being completely formed with their associated strips attached.

It will be apparent that the method proposed herein is simple andeflicient in the filling of torpedo containers which constitutes themost important and difficult step of the process of H manufacturingtorpedoes. Obviously, by means 100 of the method of the invention, alarge number of torpedoes may be simultaneously constructed at low cost.A large saving in time and labor on the part of the operator is effectedby this method.

Although specifically illustrated and described 105 herein, theinvention both as to the construction of the torpedo and the novelmethod of making the same is not to be limited by the disclosure but isto be understood as of such scope as to inelude any variations ormodifications as would no occur to persons skilled in the art and withinth scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of making track torpedoes, which comprises providing aplurality of containers of 1 5 such dimension that they will hold theexact quantity of detonating material required for a charge when filledand no more, placing said containers in closely assembled verticallydisposed position and in juxtaposed relation to each other, 125'introducing and packing unmeasured amounts of detonating material intoall of said containers simultaneously until they are filled, and sealingthe filled containers.

2. A method of making track torpedoes, which 1 5, comprises providing aplurality of containers each comprising a pair of open end telescopicsections, the inner sections being of such dimension that they will holdthe exact quantity of' detonating material required for a charge whenfilled and 13.0 no more, placing the inner sections of said containersin closely assembled vertically disposed position and in juxtaposedrelation to each other,

introducing detonating material into all of said 7 sectionssimultaneously until they are filled, and telescopically applying theouter sections of said containers to the filled inner sections to sealthe same.

3. A method of making track torpedoes, which comprises providing aplurality of containers 'of such dimension that they will hold the exactquantity of detonating material required for a charge when filled and nomore, placing enough of said containers in vertically disposed positionand in juxtaposed contact relation to each other f r-,

in a shallow box-like tray to completely fill the same, successivelyintroducing unmeasured quantities of detonating material into all of thecontainers in said tray simultaneously until they are filled, jarringsaid tray after each introduction ."Egi

introducing detonating material into all of the container sections insaid tray simultaneously until they are filled, and removing the filledsections and telescopically applying the outer sections thereto.

5. A track torpedo, comprising a container for holding detonatingmaterial, said container comprising a pair only of open end telescopicsections, and a pair of flexible strips attached respectively to thesections of said container, the outer ends of said sections beingcrimped about the ends of said strips and secured thereto.

HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY.

